Gary Rowett believes that the return of several key players, and the start of the January transfer window will help to end Birmingham City's poor run of form, and perhaps, push them back into the promotion mix, the Birmingham Mail reports.

Following an excellent start, the Blues have enjoyed just one victory in their last seven games, with their three most recent fixtures all ending in defeat, and Rowett insisted that the absence of some first-team members is the reason for their struggles.

"With going with a tight squad we always knew that it would be hard without the likes of our key players, [Clayton] Donaldson, [David] Cotterill and you would have to say [Paul] Robinson as well," he said.

"When you see teams like Reading have vast resources and are able to pay the sort of loan fees they are paying for the likes of [Matej] Vydra - and they go one win in nine.

"QPR were one win in five before the weekend, Cardiff were something like two wins in ten. It's not just us. Everyone feels the pressure at this time.

"We are just showing a real lack of quality in that depth or our squad, which is maybe a little bit unfair on one or two," he added.

The Birmingham Mail suggests that Donaldson - who is the club's top goalscorer - and Cotterill may be back for the Midlands outfit for the Boxing Day trip to Sheffield Wednesday. Their return will likely come shortly before the beginning of the window, and Rowett described what would constitute a successful January for the club (via Mail).

"I genuinely believe if we can hang on in there - which I know is probably not the most positive term in the world, but if we can hang on in there then we will be in a really strong position come January," Rowett explained.

"But January feels a lot of games away at the moment and for us it's important we just maintain a little bit of balance.

"We will be in a reasonably strong position but I say that in terms of maybe being able to bring three players in," he said.

With tricky trips to high-flyers Middlesbrough and Preston - who, despite sitting ten places below the Blues, have conceded 16 goals, six fewer than Rowett's men - ahead, before a home game against Cardiff, Birmingham will know that there is no guarantee that their slump will come to an end in the coming weeks.

But with seemingly much brighter times ahead, Rowett will be hoping that the wait for key players' returns and the arrival of some new signings does not see them fall way off the pace in the promotion race.